Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Mar 21st, 2024 Reluctant Leadership

Today’s Passage – Judges 4 – 6 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – James 1 – 5; Proverbs 21; Psalms 101 – 105

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song –  Psalm 34:6

Read previous posts from this passage – “Deborah and Jael – Women of God,” and “Gideon’s Fleece.”

Read the “0321 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. … 15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. 16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. … 25 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: 26 And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down. 27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.” (Judges 6:11-12, 15-16, 25-27)

Before we get to the main thought for today’s devotion, let me point out two things that we have already discussed regarding the Book of Judges:

• Notice in our reading today, the pattern in the Book of Judges:

“And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.” (Judges 4:1)

“And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.” (Judges 6:1)

After being delivered from their enemy, Israel would always go back to doing “evil in the sight of the Lord.” Here, we see the spiritual ups and downs of God’s people. They do well spiritually for a while, but when things get prosperous and safe for them, they forget about God. However, when God allows some of their enemies to gain strength and oppress them, they once again cry out to God for help. See a previous post that I did on this repeated pattern in Judges – “The Vicious Cycle in Judges“

• Notice – “the angel of the Lord” who appears to Gideon. He was discussed extensively in yesterday’s devotion – “Do As You Are Told.“

My thought this morning is about the fact that Gideon was not exactly who we might think would be the best choice to lead the people of God to victory over their enemies, which in this case was the Mideanites. We first meet him in verse eleven where he is hiding his wheat by the winepress. In verse fifteen, we hear Gideon telling the angel that he is not qualified. He kind of reminds us of Moses who also offered many excuses as to why he was not the best choice to lead Israel. He also needs a lot of reassurances from the angel. He asks for a sign in verse seventeen, and then for two more signs in verses 36 – 40 (see “Gideon’s Fleece”). Reluctantly, however, Gideon obeys the Lord and leads the people in battle against God’s enemies.

Why would God use a man like Gideon who was very fearful and unsure of himself? There are probably a few reasons, but two came to mind as I was reflecting upon this. First, if God chose a person with natural leadership ability and great human wisdom, the people might be tempted to praise the leader instead of God. In the following chapter, we will see that God also culled down the size of Gideon’s army from thirty-two thousand to a mere three hundred. God brought the victory and he wanted Israel to know that there was absolutely no earthly reason for their success.

Second, if a person with great charisma or natural talent was chosen, he might rely on those abilities instead of wholly following God. He may have even rebelled against God’s strange military tactics. Gideon, however, did exactly what God had told him to do.

“5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Sometimes the best leaders are developed because of great needs. David responded to “the cause” of the Philistine giant who was challenging Israel and mocking their God (1 Samuel 17). Nehemiah was motivated into action because of the great need within the City of Jerusalem. Neither of these men were looking for a leadership position, they were just driven into action by the need. They were reluctant, unsure of themselves, and more than a little fearful, but they each had faith that God was leading them into their leadership roles.

You may not think that you are qualified to be a leader of God’s people, either, but maybe God will also use you to inspire, encourage, and organize others in some great work for the Lord.